astonishing
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of astonishing
Explanation
Something astonishing is astounding, staggering, stupefying, amazing, or incredible. It's not something you see every day. This is a pretty strong word. A dog shaking hands is not astonishing, but a dog calling 911 for its owner definitely is. Astonishing things are amazing; they blow your mind. When people first walked on the moon, that was astonishing. Miracles are astonishing. If you say, "Holy cow! I can't believe what I'm seeing," you're probably seeing something astonishing.
Vocabulary lists containing astonishing
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
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Nothing But the Truth
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Copper Sun
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
In this Money Talks: Author and financial journalist Brendan Greeley tells Elizabeth Spiers about his new book, The Almighty Dollar—and the astonishing power this currency held long before the founding of the United States.
From Slate • Jun. 9, 2026
Visitors to Los Angeles are frequently struck by the staggering levels of homelessness in a city that also has pockets of astonishing wealth.
From Barron's • Jun. 7, 2026
At the start of the 20th century, Southern California was home to an astonishing number of military academies designed to turn boys into officers and gentlemen.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 6, 2026
The project appeared headed for disaster as it opened in 2023, having run an astonishing $1 billion over budget.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 3, 2026
This astonishing show of might among the Allies is the beginning of the end for Germany and Japan, though a year will pass before there are any more surrenders.
From "At Last She Stood" by Erin Entrada Kelly
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
